Irrigation pipe line coupling



March 16, 1954 T w, c oc -r 2,672,356

IRRIGATION PIPE LINE COUPLING Fild Sept. 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 77/oMAs W CROCKETT BY 01am, Man-l 4217260 v ATTORNEY March 16, 1954 T. w. CROCKETT IRRIGATION PIPE LINE COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1950 INVENTOR THOMAS W CRocKETT BY 04%, mmald 7am ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 IRRIGATION PIPE LINE COUPLING Thomas W. Crockett, Williamston, N. 0., assignor to Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Application September 28, 1950, Serial No. 187234 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an irrigation pipe line which comprises a plurality of pipe sections detachably coupled together, and more particularly this invention relates to a new and novel coupling device which facilitates the coupling and uncoupling of the pipe sections at a distance removed from the coupling means, whereby a single person may easily and efliciently couple one length of pipe to another while at the carrying position.

In the irrigation of crops by means of a portable pipe line, the labor cost of periodic movement of the pipe line to different positions presents a tremendous and sometimes prohibitive economic hurdle to the farmer. Since the labor cost of moving a pipe line is a direct function of the time required for the crucial couplin and uncoupling operation, a considerable sum of money has been spent in the search for a coupling means which would require a minimum of repairs, be easily and rapidly operable at a distance, and have a uniquely simplified, rugged and economical design. The present invention comprises features which completely satisfy the above requirements and especially the need for a coupling means which is rapidly operable at a distance without need for perfect alignment of the pipe sections. In other words the present invention has aided materially in reducing the time required for movement of an irrigation pipe line from one position to another.

This is accomplished by a coupling means which does-not require accurate alignment for coupling and uncoupling and which may be operated from a pipe holding and carrying position at the middle of a pipe section, a distance of about ten feet from the end to be coupled. The coupling means includes a coupler comprising a pair of oppositely disposed fixed claws having inturned end portions which coact with a coupling ring having widely spaced arcuate ear portions to couple two pipe sections together. As will be explained hereinafter the new and novel design of the ear portions and the claws provides a compensating feature for the inevitable misalignment resulting from coupling pipe sections at a location removed from the coupling means.

The various objects and features of the invention will be fully understood from the detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of an irrigation pipe line;

2 i Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pipe line;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the couplin means of the instant invention partly in section;

Fig. 4. is a horizontal section of the coupler of the instant invention and includes in phantom the pipe section to be coupled therein;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the coupler taken on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the coupling ring taken on line 6--5 of Fig. 3 and showing the position of the ring prior to coupling rotation, the coupler claws being shown in phantom;

Fig. 7 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6 bu showing the position of the ring after coupling rotation.

In the drawings Figs. 1 and 2 show-an irrigation pipe line which is made up of a plurality of aluminum pipe lengths ll, l2 and I4 connected together by the coupling means I5 of the instant invention. As more clearly seen in Figs. 3 andd, one part of the coupling means l5 comprises a cast aluminum coupler 16 which is rigidly connected to a first pipe lengthl4 by means of machine bolts l8 which are threaded into the tapped pipe length [4. As shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of arcuate stop means I9, 20 and H are provided in the'coupler [B for properly positioning the pipe length 14 before the drilling and tappingoperation of the holes for bolts l8 and also to facilitate the removal and replacement of the pipe length [4. At the ends of the coupler I6 are provided first and second end sealing means'which com prise annular sets 22 and 23' respectively which form chambers for the receptio'nand retention of V-shaped, resilient gaskets 24 and 25 respectively.

An internally threaded boss 26 is provided at the middle portion of the coupler l6 by means of which risers or spray conduits 21 may be connected to the coupler. Horizontally and longitudinally extending from the annular seat 23 are oppositely disposed claws 29 and 30 having inturned end portions 43 and 44 which coact with a brass coupling ring I1, the second part of the coupling means [5, to couple the first and second pipe lengths l4 and [2 together, the coupling ring l1 being positioned a sufficient distance from the end of the second pipe length l2 to allow insertion of the pipe I2 beyond the gasket 25. A ramp 31 is connected to the bottom of the coupler [6 to provide guide means for the insertion of the pipe section I2 therein and also to form a base 32 which may be attached to a board 33 to counteract the high rotational thrust of the spray conduits 21 during usage.

As seen, in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, the coupling ring H has a split tubular portion 34 which forms a longitudinal slot 45 and is drawn into tight frictional engagement with the pipe length l2 by means of a bolt 35 which passes through lugs 33 and 31 and is threaded into the nut 38. A pair of oppositely disposed arcuate cars 39 and 40 extend radially from opposite quadrants of the tubular portion 311 "and may be easily slid past the slender claws 29 and 30 for clockwise rotation into engagement therewith. The tightening means 35 provides a stop means which abuts against the inturned portion 44 of the claw 30 thereby limiting coupling rotation oi'the couplin ring 11 and preventing accidentalzrotationioi the ears 39 and 40 out of engagem'enttwith theirzrespective claws 29 and 30.

As may be noted in the-drawingstheiclearance between the coupling ring I! and the coupler I6 is substantial. By this arrangement a pipe section which is to be coupled to a pipe line may be centrally held by anman in a standing position and then tilted downwardly to allow insertionof the piperinto thecoupler i6. By-at- 'taching'the coupling ring H to the pipe a manner such vthat the lugs-36 and 3T-are easily visible on the upperportion of the pipe l2 as shown-in.Fig. 6, the jobeofaligning the spaces between the ears 39 and 4B withzthe-clawsZS and 30 is simple andsspeedyisince-.theespaces or passageways-betweenthe ears 39 and 4d are relatively large in comparison to the dimension of the slender claws I-ZS'and -30'which must'bereceived .therethrough. when the pipe 12 has been inserted into :the 00111316118, clockwise rotation of the pipe will bring the cars 39 and-4B into engagementwith thc.claws.-.29 and 36. respectively and the tightening means 35 will abut against the. claw 3 Y to prevent further inadvertentclock- 'wiseirotation. .A. coupler M which .is similar ..to coupler l-.6- and iattachedto-the other end of pipe i2-will be in an uprightposition uponcompletion of the .;-above rotational -movement of pipe 12, thereby placingiits ramp-42. flatlyv on the ground in, positionforrreceipt of another pipe section? The design :of "the'couplingxring H provides two-diametrically opposed passageways; each be- .ing substantially aquadrant of thecoupling. ring i! in -.-width. Thesear functions as a control ear :in thatits connections to .lug3l servesto limit the tcoupling rotation'as well as longitudinalfmovemena the :second T831, 39 serving 33150 as a a means I for preventing longitudinalsmovement.

These features provide :means --wher.eby the time and effort required in coupling and umment to ;a "spray conduit, bolt means at one end of said coupler for rigidly attaching said coupler to a length of irrigating pipe, stop means positioned inwardly of said bolt means for limiting inward movement of said pipe, a pair of diametrically opposed finger-like claws extending longitudinally from the other end of said coupler'in'a horizontal plane, said claws having inturne'd-end portions defining a space suficient ..for .the.easypassage of a second irrigating pipe;

and a coupling ring mounted near the end of said second pipe having a split tubular portion forming a longitudinal slot, a pair of lugs integral with said :tubular portion and extending soutwardly on each .side of :said slot tightening means connected to said lugsior clamping .said ring on .saidsecond pipe, a contrcliearr integral with onevofsaid lugsandintegral withand-extending outwardly .from the periphery of the quadrant of. the. inner end of said tubularjportion adjacent to said lugya secondear integral with and extending outwardlvfrom the periphery aof the quadrant of the inner end of said -.tubular portion diametrically-opposed ,tOESQ-id. cont-rolwear quadrant, said control ear 1 and its inte ral .lug forming indicia ,mean ;for :the proper orientation of said second pipe .for insertion past :the

I claws, and said tighteningt-meansupon-coupling rotation abutting :an iinturned end portion 20f said claws thereby:arresting rotation-when the coupling ring reaches the :fully 1couple'd position.

THOMAS LCRQCKE'IZT.

' itefcrcnces -Gited inlthe file o f'this patent .UNITEDJSTATES PATIENTS France Aug. ,4,. .1941 

